by pepsi_dave » Thu Jan 19, 2012 1:23 pm
FWIW, I think Mancini is playing a fookin managerial blinder with this whole card waving row.....
He saw against Liverpool (Balo and Barry sending offs), and against the Rags (Komps Sending Off) that players can have an influence over the referees decison making, and in turn affect what colour card is shown!
Obviously players doing this is wrong, and Mancini knows this, but he also knows its going unpunished. So, by doing the card waving thing, IMO, is a bit of a protest, "Well they do it, so why can't I". I also think he will do this unitl he recieves a touchline ban, and once that has happened there will have been a precedent set, by the FA, that forbids anyone waving imaginary cards. Once Mancini gets an FA sanction and ban/fine etc, you would have though and would hope that the FA then start applying the same sanctions to the players on the field who wave cards, or attempt to influence the referee in any other manner.
I don't agree with the action of waving cards around, but Mancini is a very calculated man and knows exactly what he was doing. He apologised for doing it the first time, and acknowledged it was the wrong way to behave, but the fact that he did it again, suggests he's doing it deliberately.
Will be interesting to see how it pans out anywho!
Edit* The other reason why it's a managerial masterstroke, is because in the week leading up to one of the biggest games of our season, all the focus is on him and his antics, instead of hyping up the Billionaires Vs Mostexcitingteamintheleagueandthisyearsconfirmedchampions match. All the spotlight has been taken away from the players, and Mancini is comfortable with taking it all on himself instead!
Derby Day The Scores Were Level
Then The Goat Was Fed By Neville
Silly Boy Should Know For Sure
Feed The Goat and He Will Score